Analyst Offers Will Howard Stunning Odds To Make On the spot Impression

No one anticipated the quarterback class to go off the board the way in which it did through the 2025 NFL Draft. Cam Ward going first total wasn’t shocking, however nearly every little thing else was. The seemingly-consensus second QB within the class, Shedeur Sanders, went on Day 3. Dillon Gabriel went two rounds earlier, and to the identical group, the Cleveland Browns. Lastly, the Steelers had been in a position to get Will Howard within the sixth spherical. That stunned some who anticipated him to return off the board earlier.

On Monday, Ralph Vacchiano with Fox Information put collectively a listing, rating the most effective conditions for every quarterback who was drafted this 12 months. Regardless of being a sixth-round decide, he ranked Howard’s state of affairs with the Steelers as fourth-best.

“Howard might have been the eighth quarterback off the board, however he nonetheless may have a greater likelihood to play shortly than a lot of the QBs drafted earlier than him,” Vacchiano wrote. “Proper now, the Steelers have Mason Rudolph as their presumed starter, and he has a two-year cope with solely $3 million assured. They’re famously ready on 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers to resolve whether or not he needs to play (and if he needs to play in Pittsburgh), however who is aware of how that saga will finish?”

Howard slotted forward of third-round alternatives in Seattle’s Jalen Milroe and Cleveland’s Dillon Gabriel in addition to fifth-rounder Shedeur Sanders, additionally chosen by the Browns. Howard solely positioned behind the primary three quarterbacks drafted: Tennessee’s Cam Ward, New York Giants’ Jaxson Dart, and New Orleans’ Tyler Shough.

The present quarterback room in Pittsburgh consists of Howard, Mason Rudolph, and Skylar Thompson. The Steelers may discover qualities they like in every of these three. But none current the group with loads of reliability going into 2025.

For the Steelers, that’s not best, and it’s why they’re nonetheless content material to attend on Aaron Rodgers. For Howard, although, it might be a blessing. He’d doubtless sit behind Rudolph to start the season. Nonetheless, in comparison with most QBs on this class, he appears a lot nearer to vital taking part in time, even in his rookie 12 months.

For apparent causes, although, his probabilities of taking part in time lower if Rodgers indicators, as Vacchiano writes.

“The massive caveat is that if Rodgers indicators, Howard’s future shall be delay indefinitely — except, after all, Rodgers will get damage.”

On one hand, it will most likely be good for Howard’s profession if he sat and discovered behind Rodgers. When considering of the most effective quarterbacks over the previous couple of many years, it’s exhausting to seek out one who’s been as persistently productive as Rodgers. He additionally understands the mentorship function, mentoring Jordan Love in Inexperienced Bay.

Then again, Rodgers beginning means much less taking part in time for Howard. It feels doubtless that Rodgers would solely be in Pittsburgh for one season. If not, Howard may must spend a very good period of time on the bench.

It’s most likely a protected prediction that Howard will take snaps for the Steelers sooner or later. When that may occur stays up within the air. For now, he’s in a stable state of affairs, although, and he would agree.